Trump: US to ‘escort’ neutral ships through Strait of Hormuz

(SeaPRwire) –   Project Freedom initiative seeks to free neutral ships stuck since the war with Iran began

President Donald Trump has announced that the US will direct third-party vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, framing the action as humanitarian aid for stranded seafarers.

Roughly 2,000 ships have been stuck in the area since Iran shut the strait to most maritime traffic following the US-Israeli bombing campaign that started on February 28. The US subsequently established a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump stated the effort, called Project Freedom and commencing Monday, is intended to assist nations he described as “neutral and innocent bystanders” in the war.

“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump wrote.

“The ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong – they are victims of circumstance,” he added.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited a senior US official, the program is a mechanism for nations, insurers, and shipping groups to organize transit through Hormuz. The official clarified it would not entail US warships providing direct escorts.

Axios, also quoting US officials, reported US Navy ships would be positioned “in the vicinity” to potentially stop Iran from assaulting commercial ships in the strait. The official noted the Navy would also supply merchant vessels with data on shipping lanes clear of Iranian mines.

Ebrahim Azizi, who leads the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, rejected Trump’s “delusional posts,” asserting that any interference in the strait would breach the ceasefire.